Chapter Twenty Seven: Let Me Sign

"She was standing there by the broken tree
Her hands were all twisted she was pointing at me
I was damned by the light coming out of her eyes
She spoke with a voice that disrupted the sky
She said walk on over into bitter shade,
I will wrap you in my arms and you'll know you've been saved
Let me sign, let me sign…"

Ooo0ooO

Walking through the woods, the night air was warm and I heard the sounds of crickets chirping all around me.

I ran my hand along the bark of the trees I passed, enjoying being immersed in the middle of nature. It had been a while since I had actually absorbed the sights, the scents that surrounded me.

Looking up, I saw the glittering stars nestled in the black sky. I stopped briefly to find the biggest, brightest star and closing my eyes, I made a wish.

Feeling foolish, I kept going. Klaus's scent trail was heading in the direction of his mansion, so I took my time.

I knew he had a lot on his mind, many conflicting thoughts and feelings, which buzzed along the soul bond like humming bees.

When I reached the mansion, the lights illuminated through the darkness. With my superhuman vision, I saw Klaus standing on his balcony that lead to his bedroom. He was drinking something, obviously brooding.

I watched him, feeling how the soul bond made me want to go to him. It was like pushing two magnets closer and closer together, until at least they click.

Even from a distance, I heard him sigh deeply. I thought he glanced in my direction, so I stepped behind a tree.

When I turned to look again, he was gone. I ran a hand through my hair absently and turned to keep walking. I slammed into a solid wall of chest and would have stumbled if two arms hadn't caught me.

"Why are you spying on me?" Klaus asked quietly. I looked up into his eyes, which were dark as the night surrounding us.

"Are you okay?" I asked, resting a hand against his cheek. He nuzzled my hand and sighed again.

"No," he admitted. I wrapped my arms around his neck, burying my face into his shoulder. His forehead dropped to the crook of my neck as his arms went around my waist tightly.

Feeling at a loss for words, I began humming softly. Klaus relaxed slightly in my arms.

"There's one more thing I have to do," he murmured. He pulled away to look into my eyes. "Will you wait here for me, sweetheart?"

"Of course," I said. Klaus nodded before disappearing into the night.

"Annabelle?"

Turning at the sound of my brother's voice, I smiled. "Hi Charlie."

Charlie emerged from the shadows, wearing a thick flannel jacket. He looked over me and gave me a crooked smile. I walked over and wrapped my arms around his waist firmly. He kissed the top of my head in a brotherly manner.

"How are you doing?" he asked, running a hand down my hair. I pulled away and gave him a reassuring look.

"I'm good. Better than good." Charlie looked over my shoulder in the direction Klaus had gone.

"Did you guys make up and stuff?"

"And stuff," I said teasingly. Charlie rolled his eyes.

"What have you been doing?" I asked, cocking my side to the side. Charlie shrugged and brushed his hair away from his eyes.

"Nothing really, just scoping out the town. Having a few beers at the Grill."

I laughed, shaking my head at him. "Of course."

There was a soft rustling behind me, so I turned to look and saw Klaus walking back towards me slowly. My eyes widened when I realized what- or rather who- he was carrying.

"Klaus?" I asked. His eyes looked up to meet mine, full of pain and misery. I looked down at the body wrapped in green tablecloth and couldn't stop tears from pricking my eyes. Charlie stepped forward.

"Do you need any help?" he asked gently. Klaus met my brother's understanding gaze and shook his head.

"He's my brother," Klaus said simply, walking past us. Charlie and I exchanged a long look before quietly following Klaus up into the mansion.

Ooo0ooO

I felt numb.

Carrying Kol's body into the house I had purchased for all of us to live in, I felt a dead weight on my already dead heart weighing me down.

There was warmth, gentleness, comfort, flowing like a needle into my vein from the soul bond on Annabelle's behalf, but even that went so far.

I went down into the basement, where the coffins were still stored. I stopped in front of Kol's and stared at it.

This time, he's going inside there for good.

A warm hand rested on my arm and I looked over into Annabelle's eyes. They were dark, like charcoal, and wet with tears. Without saying a word, she opened the coffin and stepped back.

I laid Kol's body down gently, before crossing his arms lightly over his chest. Then I rested my hand against his. Again, without a word, Annabelle's hand came to rest on top of mine.

"Niklaus?" she asked in a soft voice.

The numbness ebbed as pain and loss washed over me. I clenched my jaw as tears fell down my cheeks. Anna leaned her head on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

Turning my head slightly, I looked over at Charlie, who was standing a few feet away. He and I exchanged a look and I nodded.

Looking back down at my brother, I struggled to find my words.

"You don't need to say anything, sweetheart," Anna said. She pressed herself closer, as though her presence would soothe away the pain I felt. And perhaps it did.

"Kol was the youngest, aside from Rebekah, in our family," I said to her quietly. "After Henry and our other brother died back before we first became the Original Vampires, Kol was what you would call, the baby of the family. He always hated that. I suppose that's why when we spread out across Europe, his killings were as numerous and fierce as my own."

I nearly chuckled as I remembered. "Kol might have always been a thorn in my side, but he was my family and blood is blood. All I wanted was for our family to be together again…" I trailed off and Annabelle leaned up and kissed my cheek gently.

"It's okay," she murmured. I turned my face slightly so my cheek rested against hers. She squeezed my hand then lifted it off Kol's. Together, we shut the casket.

I pulled away and looked into her liquid silver eyes and she leaned her forehead against mine.

"I love you. You know that right?" I sighed and cupped her face gently. I trailed my thumbs along her cheek, her lips.

Leaning in slowly, I kissed her. Her lips parted and her sweet flavor filled my senses. They slid along mine and I shuddered at the sensation. I heard Anna's heartbeat pick up rapidly, like a bird trapped inside a cage.

Anna pulled back first and smiled.

"I love you," I whispered to her.

Ooo0ooO

When Klaus and I walked back into the living room, Charlie was standing in front of the fire, drinking a bottle of beer. He turned when we walked in and gave us an easy smile.

"Hope you don't mind," he said to Klaus, gesturing with the bottle. Klaus shook his head and I reached down to intertwine our fingers. Charlie walked up to us and looked at both of us individually in the eyes.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yes," I said. Charlie leaned down and kissed my cheek before focusing his gaze on Klaus.

"I'm sorry about your bother. I know how hard it is to lose someone you love. If you need anything, a beer, a manly talk, I'm your man," he said. Klaus chuckled and stuck a hand out. They shook hands briefly.

"Thank you, mate," Klaus replied. Charlie smiled and clasped Klaus's shoulder before nodding. He left us in front of the fire discreetly.

I turned to look up at Klaus. His gaze looked a little lost as he stared into the flames, which danced and flickered in the reflection of his blue eyes. I stepped closer and snuggled into his side, resting my forehead against his collarbone.

"Are you going to be okay?" I asked, rubbing his arm. Klaus was quiet for a long moment.

"After Finn died, I promised myself I would not let anyone else die. Not Rebekah or Elijah, not Kol… But now… I failed them. I've failed my family." His voice rose with passion. He ripped himself from my embrace and stalked away, pouring himself a drink and downing it in a gulp. Then suddenly he threw the glass into the fireplace, where it shattered. I flinched.

"I can't protect any of them! No matter how hard I try, they die. All because of Elena and her friends," he snarled viciously. His eyes steadily began to glow as his temper grew.

"Klaus," I whispered. Growls erupted from his chest, sometimes shooting up into a snarl. I watched as his claws grew and his teeth lengthened.

"I should kill them. I should slaughter them like they slaughtered my brothers!" he shouted. A sharp snap came from his back as his body twisted, beginning to shift.

With my heart pounding, I walked up to Klaus slowly. His eyes were feral, furious, and I saw his skin literally crawling as he fought for control over the wolf.

I reached up and cradled his face in my hands. "Klaus, look at me."

He jerked out of my grasp, snarling, snapping. I tried again, breathing deeply. I focused my energy on him, pushing myself through the soul bond. I felt his misery, buried underneath the rage that left a harsh taste on my tongue.

"Niklaus, look at me," I murmured soothingly. "It's okay. I'm here." Klaus's body jerked and his eyes snapped towards me. I smiled and rubbed my hand along his cheek.

"I'm here," I repeated. "You're okay. We're okay."

Slowly, but surely, blue spread through the gold in his eyes. His fangs retraced as well as his claws and he shuddered as he buried the wolf back. I kept murmuring to him until finally, his hand reached up to cover my wrist.

"Annabelle," he sighed, as if reassuring himself I was still there.

"Baby, it's okay to hurt. It's okay to feel. You can cry if you need to cry," I said gently but firmly. Klaus looked at me, eyes swimming with grief.

Then I was in his arms, his face on my shoulder. He didn't make a sound as he cried but like before, sobs racked his body, like blows to his back.

"Oh honey," I murmured. I ran a hand down his hair. "Come on, let's go lie down."

Klaus pulled away and I saw him trying to get a grip on his agony. I looked at him and shook my head and he released a shaky breath through parted lips.

We went into the guestroom, my old bedroom. I started a fire while Klaus sat stonily on the black leather chair in front of it, staring into nothing.

Crawling into his lap, I cuddled close to him. I nudged him with my nose under his jaw, a very wolf-like gesture. He released another breath before placing his arms around me. He turned his head and in turn nuzzled my cheek.

Unsatisfied, I lifted my face so my lips could meet his. He sighed and I rested a hand against his cheek. My lips met his again and again, slowly. Desire kindled inside of me, which I controlled with effort.

"Annabelle," Klaus whispered, nearly moaned. I shivered and pulled away, kissing his neck.

Then we both sat there, in front of the warm fire, lost in our thoughts. The flames danced, a mix of bright reds and oranges with flickers of brilliant gold. The night crept by slowly and I felt myself relax in Klaus's arms. His hand trailed up and down my back and soon I was lulled into a deep sleep.

When I woke up, I was standing out in front of the quarry. The sky was dull and the sun was hidden. I shivered and rubbed my arms, looking around.

"Anna."

I whirled at the sound of my name and gasped when I saw Kol standing behind me.

"Kol!" I said in shock. Kol gave me an easy smile before placing his hands behind his back.

"How have you been?" he asked. I gaped at him.

"I'm dreaming again, aren't I? But how are you here? What's going on?" I demanded in a rush. Kol chuckled and stepped up beside me to look out at the quarry.

"It seems you have a gift with seeing ghosts in your dreams, Miss Davis."

"Wh-what?" I stuttered, eyes widening. Kol turned to look at me with appraising eyes.

"Come now, how else would you explain this?" he countered, raising a brow at me. I stepped back, lifting my hands.

"Okay, I don't know what's going on or how to explain this… but that's just crazy!"

"Perhaps it is."

I yelped in shock at the voice behind me and turned. A tall, brown haired man with hazel eyes and a handsome face stood behind me. He gave me a kind smile.

I sensed Kol right behind me. he leaned in, so close his lips nearly pressed against my ear.

"Then how do you explain Finn, darling?"

I woke with a start. I sat up with a gasp and felt my heart thundering in my chest.

"Annabelle?" Klaus muttered, rubbing his eyes. I looked around and saw Klaus had moved us to the bed, where I had been laying my head on his chest.

"Annabelle?" Klaus repeated. "Are you all right, sweetheart?"

I looked down at him and saw he was watching me with concerned eyes. I shook my head and gave a short laugh.

"Yeah…yeah. I'm fine. Just a weird dream," I said uneasily. Klaus reached up to rub my back.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked gently. I bit my lip then shook my head.

"I don't remember it," I lied. Klaus stared at me for a moment before nodding.

"Come on, love, go back to sleep," he encouraged. I lied back down and released a quiet breath.

When I closed my eyes again, I fell into a dreamless sleep.

Ooo0ooO

Author's Note: So I'm thinking of making Charlie and Klaus friends, what do you guys think?

Let me know what you thought of this chapter!